Reversing mechanism



March 17, 1931. H. w. EICHER. SR

REVERS ING MECHANI SM Filed July 31, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Mm 17, 1931.H. w. EICHER s 1,797,080

REVERSING MECHANISM Filed July 31, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gnumlfozMlielzenflr Patented Mar. 17, 1931 HARRY WALTER EICHER, SR, OF SOMERSET,PENNSYLVANIA REVEBSING MECHANISM Application -fi1ed- July 81, 1928.Serial No. 296,457.

This invention relates to a reversing. mechanism and it is an object ofthe invention to provide a mechanism of this kind adapted to beassociated with the valve mechanism of a ,5 motor and wherein saidmechanism may be caused to be inoperative during the stroke of a pistoncomprised in the motor to cause the drive shaft of the motor to beoperated in areverse direction.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrange ment of the several parts of my improvedreversing mechanism whereby certain importantadvantages are attained andthe device '15 rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise moreconvenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fullyset forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view partly in sect-ion and partly inelevation illustrating in part the reversing mechanism as hereinembodied;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view partly in side elevation and partly insection illustratso ing the coacting clutch members as comprised in thereversing mechanism;

Figure 3 is a view in top plan with a part in section of the structureas illustrated in Fig ure 2;

Figure 4 is a View partly in section and partly in elevationillustrating one of the clutch members as herein employed;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 illustrating a second clutchmember, the relation of the clutch member illustrated in Figure 4 beingdiagrammatically indicated by broken lines; I

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 with the clutch memberillustrated in Figure a be ing diagrammatically indicated by brokenlines in a second position;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the motor with certain ofthe parts coinprised in the reversing mechanism being diagrammaticallyindicated by broken lines.

-As disclosed. in the accompanying drawings M denotes a motor of thetype described and illustrated in my copending application Serial No.203,144, filed July 2, 1927 and wherein the cylinder 1 has reciprocatingtherein a piston 2 operatively connected with a crank or drive shaft 3.Extending along one sideof the engine block is a chest C having suitablecommunication through the pipe line 4 with a desired source ofcompressed air or other fluid under pressure.

The wall of the cylinder 1 adjacent to the chest C isprovided with theintake ports 5 in communication with the cylinder 1 adjacent to theopposite ends thereof and with the chest C. This wall of the cylinder isalso provided with an exhaust port 6 in communication with the chest C.

Coacting with the ports 5 and 6 is a slide valve 7 provided with theusual exhaust passage 8 of such dimensions to provide communicationbetween the port 6 and one of the ports 5 when the valve 7 is in oneposition and between said port 6 and the second port 5 when the valve 7is in its second position.

The Valve 7 has associated therewith an operating rod 9 which isoperatively connected, as at 10, with a suitably supported valveoperating crank shaft 11. The shaft 11 is rotated to effect the desiredtime movement of the valve 7 through the medium of the guide chain 12meshing with a sprocket wheel 14 carried by the shaft 11 and alsooperatively engaged with a sprocket wheel 15 loosely mounted upon thecrank shaft 3.

Immediately adjacent to the sprocket wheel 15 the shaft 3 has mountedthereon a clutch member 16. This member 16 is keyed, as at 17, to theshaft 8 for rotation therewith but free for movement lengthwise of theshaft. The opposed faces of the sprocket wheel 15 and the clutch member16 are pro vided with interlocking or intermeshing clutch elements 18 sothat the member 16 and sprocket wheel 15 may be caused to rotate inunison with the shaft 3. i

The clutch member 16 is normally urged toward the sprocket wheel 15through the instrumentality of the expansible coil spring 19 ofrequisite tension. The inner face f the member 16 is provided with apair of circumferentially spaced blocks 20 each of which being providedwith a stem 21 freely directed through the member 16. Each of the blocksis constantly urged outwardly and maintained in contact at all timeswith the op posedfaces of the sprocket wheel through the medium of theexpansible member 22, herein disclosed as a coil spring, encircling thestem 21. Each of the blocks is freely received within a pocket or recess23 provided in the member 16 and the spring 22 hereinbefore referred tois interposed between said block 20 and the inner end wall of the pocket23. The face of the sprocket wheel 15 opposed to the clutch member 16carries a fixed block 24- positioned in the path of travel of the blocks20 when said sprocket wheel 15 and member 16 have rotary movement onewith respect to the other.

The member 16 is adapted to be manually moved by a fork 24 or otherwiseas preferred to disengage the clutching elements 18 and at which timethe member 16 will rotate independently of the sprocket wheel 15 and theshaft 11, but during this independent rotation the blocks 20 will bemaintained in contact with the sprocket wheel 15 or suiiicientlyprojected to assure the block 24 being in the path of travel of theblocks 20. 1

The blocks 20 are interposed in the path of the blocks 24 at all timesso as to provide positive assurance that the sprocket 15 will be rotatednotwithstanding the declutching operation of the member 16. It will ofcourse be understood that the member 16 is slidable on the shaft 3 andwhen the clutch has been disengaged from the sprocket 15, the member 16is adapted to have independent movement with respect to the sprocket 15.This movement, however, is limited by reason of the blocks 20 and 24 andthe blocks 20 will be yieldably held or interposed in the path of theblocks 24 by reason of the slidable mounting of the blocks in the"member 16, the spring 23 constantly urging the blocks 20 outwardly andagainst the opposing or abutting face of the sprocket 15.

V hen the member 16 is declutched from the sprocket wheel 15 the member16 will have rotation independently of the sprocket wheel 15 for aperiod of time to permit the piston 2 to complete a throw whereupon therelation of the open and closed ports 5 with respect to the piston 2will be reversed so that upon admission of the compressed air or otherfluid under pressure within the cylinder will result in the shaft 3being rotated in a reverse direction. When the member 16 has completedthe desired independent rotation with respect to the sprocket wheel 15,one of the blocks 20 will have contact with the block 24 of the sprocketwheel 15 thus assuring the requisite rotation of the sprocket wheel 15to maintain this new relation of the ports 5 with rc spect to the piston2. This action will continue as long as the member 16 is in de clutchedposition but when the member 16 is released for return movement underthe action of the spring 19, the clutching elements 18 willautomatically intermesh. Upon the next declutching action of the member16 the second block 20 will have contact with the block 24, asillustrated in Figure 6, resulting in the shaft 3 being caused to rotatein its first direction.

The clutching member 16 may be provided with a gear portion 25 so that,if desired, the member may be used as a power take-off medium.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that areversing mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention isparticularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience andfacility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will alsobe obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change andmodification without departing from the principles and spirit thereofand for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself tothe precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shownin carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim In combination with a cylinder, a piston working therein, ashaft in driven connection with the piston, said cylinder being providedwith means to admit motive fluid within the cylinder at opposite sidesof the piston, a valve, means for operating the valve to control theadmission of said fluid within the cylinder, a member loosely mounted onthe shaft and operatively connected with the means for operating thevalve, a clutching member rotating with the shaft and normally inengagement with said first named membcr to cause both of the members andthe shaft to rotate in unison, a block fixedly se cured to one of themembers, a second block slidably mounted in the other member, saidsecond block having a reduced stem and a spring loosely mounted aboutsaid stem, said spring engaging at one end against said member and atthe opposite end against the inner face of said block whereby toconstantly urge said block outwardly of the member and against theopposing face of the other member, the second member and shaft, whensaid second member is in declutching position, having movementindependently of the first member until the slidable block has contactwith the fixed block.

In testimonywhereof I hereunto affix my signature.

HARRY \VALTER EICHER, Sr.

